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Our Reports
The Internet In the Arab World
A New Space of Repression?
No Rules, No Limits
United Arab Emirates:
Freedom of expression is missing despite a decision banning imprisonment for press crimes
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The weekly update for ANHRI # 300
seven Year
February 18, 2010 to February 25, 2010
Emirates
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Disapproval
Association of Jurists, in United Arab Emirates deplores the death of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Mabhouh in Dubai comes as part of a series of violations of international law of human rights and international law. The association called on the European countries relating to the assassination to explicitly condemn the crime and the violation of the sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates.
. More on
http://www.anhri.net/uae/makel/2010/pr0222.shtml
Source:
Bar Association in the UAE
More information and topics on a page Emirates: http://www.anhri.net/uae
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Jordan
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Author brought to court
The Sentence of the Jordanian court of on 21\2\2010 against the Sudanese writer AlNile Abd AlQader and Ward for publication and distribution fining each JD 10,000 was a topic for two statements for publishing a book titled "Letters Sheikh Nayel..Review of Islamic doctrine". The first was issued by ANHRI and the second by the Middle East Center for defending media freedoms.
The case was filed on charges of endorsing Shiites.
Source:
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
SKEYES
More on http://www.anhri.net/jordan
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Tunisia
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Trial
In an air of repression and intimidation, on 23/2/2010, the Court of Appeal in Gafsa reviewed the cases of journalist Fahim Boukadous sentenced for four years for covering riots Alhoud AlManjami, and activist Hassan Benabdallah, sentenced to ten because of his participation in peaceful protests in Radeif in the first half of 2008. In response to defense, the court adjourned the case to 23/3/2010.
Attack
On 16/2/2010, Journalist Faten Hamdi was physically assaulted by security forces, while doing her job causing on during the functioning of the press, which caused her physical injuries
Prevention and Abuse
On 17/2/2010, police prevented a delegation from Bizerte composed of 13 rights activists political parties and civil society organizations from entering the home of human rights activist and media professional Zuhair Makhlouf, who was recently released from prison. When the delegation members insisted on their right to visit the human rights activist, police assaulted and insulted them and dispersed them by force.
Source:
National Committee to support AlHoud AlManjami locals
Tunisian Committee to Protect Journalists
Freedom and exotic
More on : http://www.anhri.net/tunisia
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Syria
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Trial
Haitham AlMaleh who was arrested on charges of spreading false news that would affect the morale of the nation ,contempt of the Head of State and contempt of public administrations and detained since October 2009, will be interrogated on a fabricated charge based on the testimony of an inmate.
Maleh denied this new charge claiming it is mere blackmailing. The hearing was deferred to 28/2/2010 to call in the inmate.
Reporter Release
On 23/2/2010, Syrian intelligence in Damascus released the Syrian Maan Akel journalist after three months of detention without any charges. It is to be noted that Akel was arrested at work in AlThawra" newspaper. He is known for bold reporting on state corruption.
Source:
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
Committees for Defending Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria
More on http://www.anhri.net/syria
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Iraq
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Journalist Abducted
Gunmen abducted Hossam Dawood , AlAhd radio correspondent from AlNasr neighborhood in Kirkuk, to an unknown destination.
Radio Closing Down
A government official closed a local radio station east of Baquba, as well as seized assets and expelled all staff. A security force stormed the radio in July 2009 expelled workers and shut it down without legal justification.
The director of the radio station declared that radio infuriated some local officials because it broadcasted citizen complaints . He warned against attempts to restrict free media in the province. He also added that the closure came after the officer demanded partnership in the radio after the radio has received aid from the Iraq reconstruction team and has constructed new buildings
Source:
Journalistic Freedoms Observatory
More on : http://www.anhri.net/iraq
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Palestine
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Journalist Imprisoned
On 16/2/2010, military court in Nablus , sentenced Tarek Abu Zeid, former reporter for AlAqsa TV, for a year and a half. The Palestinian cabinet in West Bank has banned AlAqsa TV , pro Hamas channel, from working in the West Bank on 16.9.2007.
Journalist Arrested
The arrest of associated press photographer Nasser Shyoukhi by the Israeli occupation forces Khalil south of West Bank while covering in Ibrahimi Mosque area.One of the soldiers approached him and confiscated his identity, saying that he was an agressor. At the interrogation center, he discovered that a settler filed a lawsuit against him for assault two months ago. Yet he denied the charge and said he was a journalist .
He was bailed out 1000 shekels to attend the court on 28.9.2010. "
Source:
MADA
More: on http://www.anhri.net/palestine
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Egypt
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Human Rights Council of the United Nations on Egypt's issue
Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights announced it welcomed the acceptance of the Egyptian government of most of the recommendations, including those related to the worst violations of human rights perpetrated by the government. On the other hand , it expressed regret that the government rejected some recommendations that as important, either directly or allegedly because they were based on "incorrect information".
Among 165 recommendations, the government accepted 119 most of which are repeated or similar. It rejected 21 recommendations , 7 of which it has considered based on incorrect information, while the government deferred its stance on 25 other recommendations to the next Council meeting in June 2010.
The statement said "The government is lying when it denies the validity of the information which refers to documented violations such as use of emergency laws against bloggers and political activists, or immunity enjoyed by the perpetrators of sectarian violence. We now call on the government to accept all the recommendations made during the audit, to develop a transparent implementation plan and cooperate with civil society. The plan should contain a timetable that contains measurable commitments".
Blogger Detained
Despite the Egyptian government's assertion of non-use of emergency laws against bloggers and political activists, ANHRI statement covered the forced detention of blogger Ahmed Doma after having completed his one year term according to the emergency law and a military court though the blogger is civilian and does not fall under emergency law
The statement: http://www.anhri.net/en/reports/2010/pr0221.shtml
Source:
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
More on http://www.anhri.net/egypt
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Morocco
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Request for an urgent intervention
Moroccan Organization for Human Rights - in a letter to the Prime Minister – warned against transferring four unemployed, being on hunger strike to hospital not taking into account their delicate condition as their health seriously deteriorated. The four men resorted to the employment department and they were in a very critical condition.
Source:
Moroccan Organization for Human Rights
More on : http://www.anhri.net/morocco
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Yemen
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Prosecution of journalist
Amnesty International expressed concern about the Yemeni journalist Mohamed al-Maqaleh, where authorities arrested him incommunicado since September 2009.
He appeared before before the Attorney General of the Specialized Criminal Court, whose proceedings did not meet international standards for fair trials. It is believed that Mohamed AlMaqaleh, a member of Yemeni Socialist Party and former admin of the party's website , was arrested for his comments on the government's conduct in the dispute with the followers of the deceased Shiite leader Hussein Hothi in the northern province of Saada.
He was arrested for criticizing the killings of civilians in Saada by the army in an article published in the party's website.
Source:
Amnesty International
More on : http://www.anhri.net/yemen
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International and regional
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Human Rights Watch requested the Egyptian government to put an end to discrimination against women in judicial positions in all courts. On 22/2/2010,The Supreme Judicial Council abolished the State Council vote of February 15 to prevent women from holding judicial office of the Council. In spite of this important provision, according to Human Rights Watch, women remain deprived of being judges in the other state bodies, including the criminal courts.
Source:
Human Rights Watch
More information and topics on international and regional page: http://www.anhri.net/yemen
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The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
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Opinion and expression
Court of Appeal of Gafsa adjourned the case of the journalist and correspondent for the Tunisian channel Al Hewar, AlFahim Boukadous who was sentenced to four years at first instance.
He was tried on fabricated charges due to his covering of the riots of Alhoud AlManjami 2008. The trial was conducted in an atmosphere of repression and police intimidation. All routes to court were blocked. Security forces prevented civil society activists, jurists , politicians and unionists from attending the trial.
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anhri is a legal organization that defends the freedom of opinion and expression of the press and the right to exchange information. Moreover, it works on collecting the publications of nearly 140 Arabic human rights organizations from 18 countries across the Middle East and North Africa, which are published in Arabic and presented in one website. It also provides human rights Sources in the Arab world for media workers, journalists, activists and the public in an attempt to increase the number of internet users and those interested in human rights issues in the Arab speaking world. Though one of many human rights groups serving the Middle East and North Africa, it is the only one in the Arab world devoted exclusively to protecting the freedom of expression across the region.
For more information, suggestions or membership in the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, please contact anhri at:
Address: 19-26 July st-Downtown - Cairo- 4th floor - suit 55
Phone Number: (00202) 27736177
Email address:
info@anhri.net
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